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Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times? Well, you’ve pretty much got me for life, don’t you?

And so, here we are again with another women’s professional league, the NWSL opening up this weekend. Unfortunately – and probably unfairly – for the NWSL, it has the burden of two failed leagues that came before it on its shoulders, but while reality and perception can often take diverging roads, sometimes it’s hard to distinguish which one is which without careful examination.

I’m not here to solely bring the bitter negativity, obviously I want the league to succeed as much as anyone. However, I feel it’s important to talk about things that may become issues as the league attempts to progress through the season, and hopefully throughout several campaigns to come.

But having lived through the WUSA on PAX and the WPS on Fox Soccer Channel, I think it’s important to be able to have perspective on what works this season. I hope, sincerely, that once everything gets worked out, most of the talk will be about what’s going on in between the lines. However, it may be a little while before we get there.

I’ve had some limited experience in both soccer game day operations (working with the PDL’s Connecticut FC Azul) and live Internet broadcasts on sportingnewsct.com, so I have at least a modicum of knowledge about two businesses which are and will be integral to the overall success of the league. Or maybe because I have that experience I overrate the importance of them.

Either way, both had their share of problems on the opening weekend of the NWSL, which I’m not going to go as far as inexcusable like some others before me have, but it was certainly disappointing. I made a concerted effort to watch all four games, and here’s what I got:

 

• Even though I’m not the biggest Sean Wheelock fan (OK, I’m not really a fan at all), FC Kansas City brought a professional voice that has experience in calling soccer games (pro ones at that), and its broadcast went relatively smoothly on YouTube (it was slightly behind, but I can live with that).

The game was on very fast turf on a high school field with football lines, and had some scoreboard issues which was a very familiar site to me. Most times, high school scoreboards do not count upward, even when they’re used for soccer. But you would have hoped that would be something the team would have anticipated prior to their much-publicized opening, however most times teams don’t exactly practice on the field they play matches on, so we’re willing to give them a pass.

And compared to Sunday’s issues, they were very minor.

• On Sunday, we were left with three simultaneous games, the first being Sky Blue FC hosting Western New York. As most of you know, I never saw the first half, which was more than a little disappointing to me and the thousands of people watching on YouTube, some of whom voiced their complaints. The second half featured a camera zoomed in much too far for soccer purposes and no scoreboard, but at least it was something.
• The Chicago-Seattle feed on YouTube never did get going, although the Red Stars Spanish feed worked (stalling a few times). The Red Stars tweets after the game implied that they were pushed onto YouTube by the league and had never had a problem with their own live feed in the past (I watched a few games when they were in WPSL Elite last season and never had a problem with their well-done broadcasts).
• Finally, Boston decided to hire its own company, MediaBoss, to broadcast the games, with the catch being that they were charging more than $6 (with tax) per game. I reached out to the Breakers, who have been very good to me (and the rest of the media, they clearly get “it” more than some of the other teams I’ve dealt with in the past incarnations of women’s professional soccer), and general manager Lee Billiard gave me this explanation:

“We are not putting a volunteer on the roof with a hand held, that is not how the Boston breakers operate,” Billiard wrote. “We want to make sure we are offering our fans in the US, and around the world, the best possible product we can.  This was a significant investment for our organization and one we believe will be the best out there. We are a soccer team, but we are also a business. Based on previous league failings I am sure people can understand revenue and expenses are managed differently in order to succeed as a business and have longevity. For us, charging a small $4.99 fee is a business decision but is also down to the excellent product we are offering.”

Except I wouldn’t exactly call the product “excellent”, at least in its first game. Granted, my sportingnewsct.com colleagues have been at it for a while (and I’m obviously biased), but I would take their broadcasts over the quality of what I saw Sunday, and they never charge a fee, let alone $6 per game (they try to make money off of advertisements and DVD sales of events).

MediaBoss insisted on showing low live camera angles, hideous for soccer, and switching in the middle of play, leaving my eyes confused as to where the ball actually was in relation to the other players at the field (much more important in soccer than say, basketball). They cut away to the sideline reporter during live ball action, nearly missing a goal. And when I missed Washington’s goal and flipped back to see a quick replay, I got nothing.

Again, if you weren’t charging me money, I wouldn’t have as much right to complain. But, just like newspapers that have attempted to erect paywalls, once I’ve given you money, I can demand a solid product. Or, sadly, I just won’t watch anymore.

You may think this is a small concern for the league that with a host of on-the-field problems to work through, and maybe you’re right. But with only eight teams, and the majority of the country nowhere near any of them to go in person, to me, it would be extremely helpful to get off to a good start and succeed where others have failed: having an updated website with correct statistics, making sure game day operations run smoothly, and getting every game broadcast online so people (like me) can keep up with the league.

To quote Lisa Simpson, “I write this not to nag or whine, but to prod. We can better ourselves.” You probably know by now that I’m not going anywhere, and I’m going to watch this league through thick and thin.

Look, there were plenty of positives off the field as well, the first of which was there were games, obviously. Kansas City looks like it might be able to join Portland (which looks set to blow us all out of the water this week) and Seattle as franchises that will draw impressive numbers at the gate. The quality of play was pretty good.

But to succeed and thrive, it won’t be about me. It will be about the people that currently sit on the proverbial fence.

Maybe their kids play soccer. Maybe they are the kids that are playing soccer. But we need to coax them to come to our side.

We’ve learned from the last few years that we need to keep our finances from spinning out of control. But, to me, it would help greatly if the NWSL would get the little things right, too. And I don’t think the first week was a great start.

Without further ado, we turn our focus on the field with my Week in Review:

SATURDAY

KANSAS CITY 1:1 PORTLAND

What we learned:

I really like Kansas City’s makeup, with two of the most underrated and improving national teamers in Becky Sauerbrunn and Desiree Scott patrolling different parts of the middle of the field. Scott (along with Jen Buczkowski) frustrated Alex Morgan, Christine Sinclair, and Portland throughout, along the introduction of Danielle Foxhoven against a tiring KC squad changed things and eventually led to the game-tying penalty kick, which was more than a little dubious (you’d think a new league might be a good excuse to cut ties with Kari Seitz in the middle as well, but I guess not). Still, the Thorns were much better in the second half regardless.

Vlatko Andovoski’s 4-2-3-1 had Mexican international Renae Cuellar up top, and she took advantage of a Rachel Buehler miscue to score just three minutes in. Andonovski started Casey Loyd and Kristie Mewis on either wing (Mewis interestingly on the right), two of the more fascinating players in the league from a technical standpoint. They are two of the smartest players our country has to offer right now, and neither has much of a conscience on the field, willing to try things that others may not, which can make them extremely entertaining to watch. But neither is known for their work rate or defensive ability, and we’ll see whether the good can overcome the bad as the season progresses. Either way, it should be fun to watch.

Andovski also had Merritt Mathias trying to pull a Kelley O’Hara with a conversion to right back, and she certainly didn’t embarrass herself, and actually had some solid movements going forward.

Meanwhile, Portland escaped with a point despite Morgan being virtually invisible and Sinclair never really making her presence felt. Cindy Parlow Cone will have to decide whether to put Foxhoven in from the start this week against Seattle. Despite Buehler’s hiccup, the largely unheralded Thorns backline held up fairly well, which is a positive.

Woman of the match:

Becky Sauerbrunn – Tom Sermanni was in attendance, which is probably good for Sauerbrunn, who just doesn’t make many mistakes, and I’m not sure if she made any in this match.

You might not have noticed …

Mewis picked up the first yellow card in league history in the 40th minute by kicking the ball away and getting caught. She’s definitely got a little of that attitude in her. But, as I said, that might not be the worst thing in the world if it reflects her confidence.

Next up:

Kansas City – vs. Boston (Sat.); Portland – vs. Seattle (Sun.)

 

SKY BLUE 1:0 WESTERN NEW YORK

What we learned:

Well, at least one NWSL team will play on grass at least. And the team that plays on it has put together a contender as well, it would seem. Like Kansas City, goal scoring might be a bit of an issue, althought Lisa De Vanna is always ready for a challenge, and always causes opposing defenses fits. It’s hard to argue with an outside back tandem of Kelley O’Hara and Caitlin Foord, the 18-year-old Foord was a constant threat down the WNY right side.

(Side note: Wonder what Sermanni thinks of the fact that Foord could spend her year playing against some of the best in the world, while someone like Morgan Andrews – who proved she could hang last summer – cannot? That’s fair.)

Sophie Schmidt played extremely well last summer and had a couple of killer passes in this one as well.

For the Flash, Abby Wambach was extremely upset at herself afterward, but you could tell she wasn’t terribly comfortable with her new teammates quite yet. Jodi-Ann Robinson was impressive when she was inserted, at least until she got in the vicinity of the Sky Blue net. Still, even with some growing pains to go through, the Flash were a missed penalty away from grabbing a point. But this doesn’t look like the WNY team that will be a league favorite like two years ago, certainly.

Woman of the match:

Brittany Cameron – Well, if you stop a penalty and keep the only clean sheet of the weekend, you get the nod. She also had a couple of nice saves as well.

You might not have noticed…

One slight flaw for Sky Blue, Christie Rampone seemed dead set at pushing her line up hard, even leading by a goal in stoppage time and somehow Wambach and Robinson both got behind them for a 2-on-0 in what turned out to be the final kick of the match. Luckily for Sky Blue, Wambach got the ball caught in her feet and ended up firing high from 12 yards, one she surely wanted back.

Next up:

Sky Blue – at Washington (April 27); WNY – at Washington (Sat.)

 

CHICAGO 1:1 SEATTLE

What we learned:

Neither team had a real star-studded lineup (see: national team players) out there for various reasons, but most of us know goal-scorers Christine Nairn and Lori Chalupny, perhaps the two most talented players not currently in the regular pool (although that may change shortly with Nairn).

Although the Reign scored first, it appeared (the feed made it tough) that the Red Stars (statistically) had most of the play, but could not beat Michelle Betos. Chicago played very direct in WPSL Elite last season, particularly at home, and with a lot of the same roster and the same coach, that probably won’t change too much, especially because it was very successful. But, like several others, they have to score goals, and couldn’t quite do it Saturday.

The Reign scraped together a point, but we’ll have to see how their roster transforms as the season progresses.

Woman of the match:

Lori Chalupny – Again, not too much to go on, but her name was the most mentioned in all the game reports I saw and she certainly was involved in the little bit that I saw as well (including obviously the goal).

You might have missed…

The attendance of 1,255 was disappointing in the opener for the Red Stars, who drew bigger crowds last season in WPSL Elite. Obviously, April weather and such play a role, but something to keep an eye on as we move forward this season. Alex Morgan comes to town for their next game in two weeks, we’ll see how that goes.

Next up:

Chicago – vs. Portland (April 27); Seattle – at Portland (Sun.)

 

BOSTON 1:1 WASHINGTON

What we learned:

The Spirit, who couldn’t keep the ball out of their own net against college teams in the preseason, came within a couple of minutes of keeping a clean sheet (and getting three points) against what looks (on paper, at least) like one of the top attacks in the league. Hmmm. Of course, Ali Kreiger returning had a lot to do with it, but still a much better team effort, even if they were under pressure for the majority of the match.

You saw the potential of what Sydney Leroux, Kyah Simon, and Heather O’Reilly can do together going forward, but they were never quite able to put it together to finish the job. It was substitute Libby Guess that created the Leroux equalizer, which might put Lisa Cole in a spot to try to find a place to get her on the field (she came on for Simon, but I still think they need her out there).

Like Chicago, Boston can take solace in the fact that they had the majority of the play, but did leave two home points on the board in the opener.

Woman of the match:

Ali Krieger – Diana Matheson, another of the Canadians that performed admirably in the opening weekend, was also a standout, but Krieger was her typical (and healthy) self in the back and that will help the Spirit tremendously going forward. Expert analysis, I know.

Next up:

Boston – at Kansas City (Sat.); Washington – vs. Western New York (Sat.)

• (More on the field stuff next week, I promise.)

 

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